What's It Do?

PhotoEQ makes color correction, image editing, and color management tasks simpler with ease of use but it can also handle advanced tasks such as batch and layer-based processing for all adjustments. It provides a color correction solution that automatically corrects white balance, exposure, and contrast problems in a single step. It is a lightweight native Windows application with a single windows GUI not requiring any runtime libs such as .Net. The custom vector-based takes only 8 MB of memory while running. Each color correction adjustment is a separate layer, giving full freedom to tweak automatic color corrections as desired.
 

Does it do what it promises?

Reviewer 1 - Mark Snyder: Yes. PhotoEQ is described on its Web site as making photo editing “simpler” and “guess free.” It lived up to these claims without exception. PhotoEQ makes image correction a simpler, less frustrating process, and when combined with a number of useful tools and a very simple interface that anyone can easily understand, can quickly and easily lead to vastly improved photos.

Reviewer 2 - Dana Cardwell: Yes, PhotoEQ does automatic color correction and digital image editing for routine normal digital images, both in single image and batches of several images.

Reviewer 3 - Dana Bostick: Yes, it does just about any photo manipulation/correction one might need.

Reviewer 4 - Peter Royle: Yes, is easy to use and quite effective in improving some of my less successful photographic efforts.


Was it easy to install?

Reviewer 1 - Mark Snyder: Yes. It was relatively small when compared to for similar programs, a 12.1 MB download, but it did require 40.5 MB of disc space. The installation was fast and smooth, using a familiar installation wizard. It offered a choice as to whether a desktop icon was wanted, and the registration was a simple cut-and-paste. There was no configuration necessary or needed. Thankfully, there was no third party software as so many developers are now trying to piggyback with their downloads. In short, the download and installation was as smooth, easy, and as simple as the software itself. The EULA (End User License Agreement) was standard, though offered some confusion as to the use. In both the “use” statement as well as the making of backups, it refers in both instances to “copies.” I am unsure whether or not this means that the program can be installed on multiple computers and make multiple backup copies. I am also less than happy with the statement “may provide you with support.” This would indicate that they “may” or may not. This may be a problem in translation but does cause some apprehension. These items need to be clarified by the developer. As has become the norm, there is no warranty provided and no liability accepted. The program uninstalled smoothly and cleanly, leaving no empty folders and only a very few Registry fragments that had, in fact, been created by Windows and not the software per se.

Reviewer 2 - Dana Cardwell: Yes, the downloaded 12.5 MB exe file installed without conflicts or problems. Entering the license key was a simple copy-and-paste function.

Reviewer 3 - Dana Bostick: Yes, it typical wizard-style install with no problems and no sneaky "shove ware" included. There was only one, unchecked box for a desktop icon if desired. The EULA contained all the typical comments but was a bit vague about the number of computers allowed per license.

Reviewer 4 - Peter Royle: Yes. The 12.54 MB file took less than one minute to download on a fast cable connection. The installation used the normal Windows Wizard, and I was able to place the program and shortcuts in the location of my choice. The EULA (End Users Licence Agreement) is quite short, although legalistic. Registration was a simple copy-and-paste.

Under the Help menu is a "Check for Updates" item. If an update is available, one chooses "Download and Install". The process is completely automatic, simple and clean, with no need to indicate where the program is installed, to reenter licence information, etc.


Good Points

Reviewer 1 - Mark Snyder: PhotoEQ simplifies the sometimes arduous and tedious task of image editing--especially when one has a batch of photos that did not come out as well as envisioned. Whether they are over-exposed, under-exposed, the lighting was inappropriate, or maybe they are just some old photos that have faded, all of these tasks can be handled by any image editor, but PhotoEQ makes these tasks simple for even a beginner. It is simply a matter of dragging the images into the program’s drop box that then opens the main program window displaying a series of easy-to-understand buttons giving access to all of the tweaks and tools provided. Everything is simply this easy, whether doing a single photo or queuing up multiple photos that can be edited one at a time or all at the same time. Some of the more unique features or features I found most appealing are:

The color correction tools—really the heart of this program—allows selecting a template with options such as over-exposure or under-exposure with an instant improvement. From there, this can be fine-tuned with customization tools or simply started over from scratch.

Everything is performed on a single screen with the original image and the corrected image displayed side by sides so there is no navigating around multiple windows and toolbars. The user will always see two versions of his photo, the untouched original and a copy that shows you the effects of the edits being made.

 All edits can be easily reversed and the original image always remains unchanged.

There are automatic color fixes available to let the program do its own analyzing and thinking. This tool worked very well and only in a few instances did I feel the need to fine tune the images with some manual adjustments.

The program offers a batch mode to optimize a large number of pictures at once.

The program is very resource-lean and should easily run on an older PC with limited memory or devices such as Netbooks. It showed no noticeable use of my CPU and consumed approximately 17 MB of RAM memory when running.

There is an exceptional Help manual built into the program, a user’s guide on the Web site, and the customer support was timely and helpful when contacted through the email system provided.


Over several months I tested this software using images taken with an expensive Nikon, with an inexpensive digital camera, images taken with a cellphone, and some old pictures that I especially chose for their condition and which I scanned into my computer. In each instance, I was amazed at how well the software performed. I even threw a difficult task of trying to correct a picture taken indoors under bright fluorescent lighting as well as incandescent lighting which washed out the color with a brown tint and blocky shadows. The automatic process came very close to correcting the image and required only a very few manual tweaks to correct the image fully.

While this program is not Photoshop, it does not try to be and neither does it cost the $700.00 for that program. At $18.00, it is about as close as I have seen to a one-click-is-all-you-need fix that is still sophisticated enough to allow some near-professional quality editing for the advanced user, while remaining simple enough to use immediately by a beginner.

Reviewer 2 - Dana Cardwell: Image editing software often poses to the new user the daunting task of learning how to use the program. PhotoEQ makes this task much easier with a help file that is very user friendly and differs from the traditional Windows Explorer-type help file. I was able to quickly learn how to control PhotoEQ to perform the function I desired. I was also impressed by the user interface of PhotoEQ that, rather than opening to a full interface with the full array of buttons, it opened to a smaller interface of the first logical function for editing an image – load the image or images. The balloon tool tips describing what each icon in the program did made using the program much easier.

PhotoEQ’s color correction is both an automatic and manual function. On many normal digital images, the automatic color correction often did improve the appearance of the digital image. Since many of these changes are slight, the only way to tell if the change is an improvement is to compare the changed image with the original. After all, the changes are only an improvement if the changed image looks better. PhotoEQ makes this an easy task by presenting the original and proposed changed image side-by-side. This allows the users to make adjustments and determine what he/she thinks looks the best. While the automatic color correction did a good job on well-lit images (daylight and flash), it did a poor job on dim images (night and underwater); however, a little adjustment in exposure, contrast, and/or color correction intensity did produce an improved image.

A nice feature with each of the tools is the reset button. After playing with multiple adjustments and determining that I wanted to start all over again, the reset button did this without having to undo each adjustment I had made.

I especially liked the layered technique utilized by PhotoEQ. As with any image editing, one quickly learns to save the original image “just in case”. The layered technique allows the original image to be saved in the same file as the edited image. The layered file will display the edited image on standard image displaying software and will copy and paste the edited image into Word documents; but, if needed, the original image can be obtained from that layered file and saved. Thus, after creation of the layered file with PhotoEQ, the original file can be deleted. This by no means decreases the amount of HARD DRIVE space to save the image, as the layered file is twice the size of the original file; but it does decrease confusion by having only one file of an image rather than two.

The batch edit and save function of PhotoEQ differs from other batch save functions that I have used in other image editing software. Most batch save functions in other image editing programs will batch edit and save a single edit function and/or assigns a numerical name to the saved file. PhotoEQ not only will apply many edits to a batch save, but also will keep the name of the file with an “sc” added to distinguish the edited file from the original when saved to the same folder. I found this very helpful in rotating a batch of images from a folder containing images downloaded from my digital camera.

I liked the Magnifier and Color picker tool. The magnifier allowed me to review details of an image and, used in conjunction with other tools, allowed me to make edits that would have been very difficult without the magnifier, such as a small crop from a large image. The Color picker gives the exact RGB mix of a displayed pixel and allows reproduction of that color in HTML coding after conversion to hexadecimal values. Those who do this type of coding often have separate software that reveals the RGB values for a color. This is a nice addition to this program.

Reviewer 3 - Dana Bostick: The program is offered at an excellent price, given its capabilities; in fact, it compares favorably with other similar applications costing much more. It offers some "pro-level" features such as ICC Profiles that allow one to adjust the output for various color profiles, for example, converting between the RGB color profile used on computer displays and a CMYK profile used in color printing.

The he user interface was simple to use. Very workable was the ability to drag-and-drop individual pictures or entire folders of pictures into the starting window. The default settings for image optimization seem to be just right in 90% of the cases. This makes the program quick and easy to use. Another useful feature was the ability to create a custom "tuning" of the default settings and save that profile for later use or use it in place of the default profile. Another nice feature was the batch processing capabilities that allow one to apply settings to an entire folder full of pictures all at one time.

PhotoEQ offers a fairly deep level of editing capability if needed; however, it is equally suited to doing a "quick and dirty" cleanup by using the default profile.

Reviewer 4 - Peter Royle: Although I usually feel out of my element when it comes to photo manipulation, I was less intimidated by this program than usual. The GUI (Graphical Unser Interface) is as simple as it could be: the Main Window with a large arrow pointing to "Drop Images or Folders Here" and two items only on the bar at the top: Get Images and Help.

All the tools are quite easy to use and the fact that one can immediately see the results of your selection is a great advantage. At first, I was disappointed in the Automatic Colour Correction, and felt that the results replaced vibrant colours with washed-out looking images. However, when I loaded in a set of pictures that were taken inside a dark restaurant, with a poor flash, photos that had been almost impossible to see became quite presentable.

Personalized support is offered by an on-line ticket request. My questions were always answered courteously and clearly within 12 hours.


Weak Points

Reviewer 1 - Mark Snyder: None. No program is perfect, but this program does one thing, does it simply, consistently, and exceptionally well.

Reviewer 2 - Dana Cardwell: PhotoEQ opens with the automatic color correction turned on. If a user desires to use some of the other tools in PhotoEQ and does not want color correction, the user first must turn off the automatic color correction before using the other tools to prevent the unwanted color correction in the saved files. PhotoEQ wrongly assumes that every user desires color correction on every imaged loaded into the program.

Petri Piirainen, SoftColor’s CTO and Founder, responds: It is possible to disable automatic color correction adjustments for new images. When user disables automatic color correction and locks adjustments (lock icon) then automatic color correction is disabled by default for new images.

Since the layered file format of PhotoEQ contains both the original and edited image, PhotoEQ should have an option to replace the original file when the layered file is saved.

Petri Piirainen, SoftColor’s CTO and Founder, responds: User can rewrite original image with PhotoEQ. If user removes _sc prefix from image name then PhotoEQ will ask “Do you want to replace original image” and after that user can replace original image with edited one. Also user can change output file name.

The Sharpening and De-noise tools produced results consistent with numerous free software available. My other image editing software did produce better results on these aspects of image editing, but my other image editing software was not free.

Reviewer 3 - Dana Bostick: Although I really liked the functionality and layout of the help system, I found some of the explanations to be a bit sparse. Having never used ICC profiles previously, I found the explanation very sparse and technical for me. Ultimately, I had to resort to Wikipedia for a better explanation of what ICC Profiles are and why one might wish to use them.

Reviewer 4 - Peter Royle: There are a number of features that I would like to see implemented in the program. Most importantly, I would like to be able to select an image and unload it from the To-Do Queue, without having processed it at all. Perhaps this could be accomplished by allowing a right-click on a thumbnail, and having an "Unload Image" option.

The Help is well-laid out and easy to understand, and explains the "How-To's" very well. PhotoEQ will allow novice photo-manipulators access to some quite powerful tools; however, it assumes that the user possesses considerable technical knowledge. Some additional information, perhaps as appendixes to the Help, file would be an improvement, and increase users' ability to use the program well.


Other Comments

Reviewer 1 -  Mark Snyder: PhotoEQ has been developed by SoftColor, a company in Finland, founded in 2005. The company specializes in color correction, image processing, and color management software for Microsoft Windows. It has been awarded commendation by the President and Finland and is, apparently a well respected company. My experience with the company as well its program, PhotoEQ, has been excellent and I would easily recommend this program.

Reviewer 2 - Dana Cardwell: Considering the small price tag on this program ($18.00), the many features it has, and the ease of use, PhotoEQ would be great program for the average user with occasional image editing needs.

Reviewer 3 - Dana Bostick: I don’t consider myself a serious or pro-level photographer, but I do take many digital photos in the course of my work. I also do a lot of editing of these photos to place in reports. I am not unfamiliar with the medium. This new application looks like it will replace two or more applications that I currently use to do my photo editing. By using the custom profile feature, I can both “optimize” the pictures to correct for bad lighting or other defects and resize the batch in one operation. This has proven to be a real time saver since I previously have used two different programs to do this. If it only had a useful “annotation” feature, I could eliminate a third application from the queue.

Reviewer 4 - Peter Royle: There is quite a range of image-manipulation software available, but much of it is intimidating to those who would like to improve some of the photos that they have taken. PhotoEQ does a good job of providing us with some basic tools that can rescue some of our less successful efforts, and spruce up some of our better efforts. Beyond eliminating red-eye, it is not designed to make improvements to selected areas of an image, but to the whole picture.

It does take a fair amount of processing power. On my seven-year old Dell, (2.4 GHz CPU ad 1.00 GB of RAM) it took about a minute for an image to be processed when I used the Resizing, Sharpening or De-noising tools.

I would encourage trying PhotoEQ before buying it. The price, at $18.00 US, is certainly reasonable.


Will you continue to use it?

Reviewer 1 - Mark Snyder: Yes.

Reviewer 2 - Dana Cardwell: Yes, I’ll add it to my image editing arsenal.

Reviewer 3 - Dana Bostick: Yes. By creating a custom template or profile, I can both batch resize and optimize the digital images I use for my work reports.

Reviewer 4 - Peter Royle: Yes.